Vertigo is an unpleasant condition that can even be frightening at times. When you have vertigo, you feel extremely dizzy. Dizzy spells can be so severe that it seems like the room is spinning. Vertigo itself isn't a medical condition. Instead, it's a symptom caused by another problem, and often the problem originates in your ear since the ear plays a major role in balance.
If you have vertigo, see an ENT doctor for an evaluation to determine the cause. Correcting the underlying issue is often necessary for the relief of your dizzy spells. Here are some treatments your ENT doctor might consider.
Medications
Medications may be indicated and prescribed by your ENT doctor depending on what's causing your vertigo. Vertigo can make you nauseous, so you might be put on medication for motion sickness. You might also need to take antihistamines or antibiotics. Your doctor might inject corticosteroids into your inner ear. These medications are intended to fight inflammation and infections that are causing your vertigo. Other medications may be prescribed to increase blood flow to your ear or to decrease fluid.
Rehabilitation
Even when you're not experiencing acute dizzy spells, you may have problems with balance that put you at risk of falling. When your balance is affected, your ENT doctor might want you to have vestibular rehabilitation therapy that works to improve your balance. This therapy often includes going through a series of head movements to train your body to maintain balance as you walk and go about daily life.
Epley Maneuver
The Epley maneuver can help certain causes of vertigo. Your ENT doctor can provide this treatment manually. It involves positioning your head through movements that cause the crystals in your ear that are causing your dizziness to reposition themselves.
Lifestyle Changes
Vertigo that's caused by Meniere's disease needs to be managed in different ways since the condition isn't curable. Making lifestyle changes can help you cope with the condition. Your ENT doctor may recommend other treatments too, but stopping smoking and alcohol might also help.
You might also be advised to eat a low-salt diet, cut back on sugar and caffeine, and limit processed foods. Your doctor might also want you to drink more water and eat potassium-rich foods. Other changes include being careful with how you move your body since sudden movements can trigger a dizzy spell.
Surgery
Surgery might be considered in certain types of vertigo. The doctor might insert tubes in your ear to improve drainage, remove the part of your ear that is causing vertigo, or cut the vestibular nerve. Some surgeries can have hearing loss as a side effect, so your doctor may only consider it if you've already lost hearing in one ear due to the condition.
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